TOEIC® Program Seeing Exceptional Growth

TOEIC® tests are used more than any other English assessment to measure the workforce's proficiency

The TOEIC® Program last year administered approximately seven million tests setting the global standard for workforce English-language assessment. Educational Testing Service's (ETS) TOEIC tests are used by nearly 14,000 organizations in 150 countries.

With almost two billion English-language speakers around the world, English has become an increasingly important international language used by people from different geographic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds to communicate with each other. As such, the need for assessing English-language proficiency for the global workforce continues to grow and ETS's TOEIC tests meet this demand. Specifically, TOEIC assessments help employers identify job candidates with the best English skills.

Test administrations increased last year by nearly one million, the number of score users increased by approximately 4,000, and countries in which institutions accept TOEIC scores increased by 30.

"This is further indication of the TOEIC tests being the most accepted global standard of English proficiency in the workforce," said David Hunt, ETS Vice President and COO of ETS's Global division.

The TOEIC tests' popularity further benefits score users and test takers because scores can be compared regardless of where or when the test is administered; meaning more users in more countries strengthens the portability of TOEIC scores.

Hunt explained that because the TOEIC testing process is standardized, test takers of any background and location can be compared fairly by score users. Specifically, organizations can build a more diverse and qualified workforce by using TOEIC test scores to make informed decisions around placing, developing and promoting employees from and within any country or region. In addition, the TOEIC tests' growing acceptance means that test takers can use their test scores for career advancement in a wider range of organizations around the world.

The TOEIC tests are the international standard for assessing an individual's English-language proficiency level for the workforce, measuring how well a potential employee can apply their English-language skills in a practical working environment. While organizations use TOEIC scores to build a stronger workforce, job seekers trust TOEIC scores to differentiate themselves in a competitive job market. Furthermore, TOEIC assessments measure all four language skills and provide descriptions of test takers' strengths and weaknesses that can be used to inform critical hiring, placement, and training decisions.

About the TOEIC Tests

For more than 30 years the TOEIC test has been the global standard for measuring workplace English-language communication skills. The TOEIC assessment family, including the TOEIC Listening and Reading test, the TOEIC Speaking and Writing tests and the TOEIC Bridge™ test are used by nearly 14,000 businesses, organizations, and government agencies in 150 countries. In 2012, almost seven million TOEIC tests were administered worldwide, solidifying the TOEIC Program as the largest and most widely used English-language assessment for the workplace. For more information on the TOEIC tests and other services provided by the TOEIC Program visit www.ets.org/toeic.

About ETS

At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually – including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments – in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org